Press



T. L. MAY

Dec. 30, 1947.

. PRESS.

Filed July 1, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY M47 K TTORN EY T. L. MAY v Dec. 30, 1947.

PRES$ Filed July 1; 1944 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ll-l1 INVENTOR I BY Dec. 30, 1947 T. L. MAY 2,433,672

PRESS 5. Shets-Sheet 3 T. L. MAY

Dec. 30, 1947.

PRES S Filed July 1, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 4 42/ INVENTOR mum ATTORNZZS Patented Dec. 30, 1947 PRESS Thomas Lestler May, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Reliance Hydraulic Press, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 1, 1944, Serial No. 543,145

13 Claims.

This invention relates to presses.

An object of this invention is a Dress havin fluid pressure-operated means for effecting relative movement of a pair of dies.

In a press embodying the invention, a toggle joint has one end pivotally supported and the other end connected to a head guided for rectilinear movement. A double-acting :fluid-pressure motor is connected to the knee of the toggle joint and means, including a four-way valve, are provided for flowing actuating fluid to and from said motor. The valve is controlled by a pair of solenoids and switches are Provided for effecting energization of said solenoid in accordance with the position of the press head. Control means also are provided for starting and stopping the press.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a press embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fi 4 is a side elevation of the control mechanism in one position,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig, 4 in a different position of the control mechanism, and Fig. 6 illustrates the invention schematically.

The press embodies a hollow frame It in which a head H is mounted on suitable guides for vertical reciprocation toward and away from a bed i2. A shaft [3 is mounted in the upper end of the frame and rotatably supports a sleeve to which are rigidly attached two arms M. A pin 15 extends through apertures in the free ends of the arms and also passes through apertures in ears it formed at one end of an adjustable length bar [1, the remaining end of which has an aperture through which extends another pin I8, this latter being journalled to the head I I.

A fluid-pressure cylinder 19 is pivotally supported at one end by a pin 20 and at its other end has an opening through which extends a connecting rod 2|. At the inner end of the connecting rod 2| is provided a piston 22 within the cylinder [9. The remaining end of the rod 2! has an aperture through which passes the pin I5. The arms I4 and the bar I! constitute a toggle joint by means of which the head H may be caused to reciprocate. vertically and power for eifecting operation of the toggle joint is obtained from the double-acting fluid-pressure motor conand 30.

2 sisting ofcylinder l9, connecting rod 2| and piston 22.

Operating fluid is supplied to opposite ends of the cylinder l9 through pipes 23 and 23a which are connected to delivery ports of a four-way valve 2c having an inlet connection 25 from a pump (not shown) and a discharge aperture 26 communicating with a tank (not shown). Solenoids 27 and 28 are provided for actuating the valve 24. The valve 24 is of standard construction and is so arranged that upon energization of the solenoid 27 the valve is actuated to cause fluid to flow from the inlet 25 through the pipe 23 to the left end of the cylinder and fluid is caused to flow from the right end of the cylinder 19 through the pipe 23a and discharge aperture 26, thus causing movement to the right of the piston 22. The valve remains in this position upon deenergization of the solenoid 21 until energization of the solenoid 28 which causes actuation of the Valve 24 to reverse the connections to cause movement of the piston 22 to the left. Movement of the piston 22 to the right expands the toggle to cause downward movement of the head I! while movement to the left of piston 22 retracts the toggle to cause upward movement of the slide l l.

Energization of the solenoids 27 and 28 is controlled by two normally-open limit switches 29 Closing of the switch 29 causes energization of the solenoid 2? while closing of the switch 30 causes energization of the solenoid 28.

A slide 3! is supported by the frame ill for vertical reciprocation and is connected at its top end through a link 32, bell crank lever 33 and link 34 to an arm [4. The arrangement of these connections is such that downward movement of the head i i is accompanied by upward movement of the slide 3| and vice versa.

The slide 35 carries a cam member 35 having an oblique surface 35a which engages the limit switch 39 on the upward movement of the slide to close said switch at the upper limit of the slide movement. A lever 36 is pivotally supported from the frame iii by a pin 37. The slide carries a cam 38 for cooperation with the lever 36. The upper right-hand corner of the cam 33 is oblique as at Hand the left-hand face of the lever 36 is provided with two spaced projections Sta and 3th. The arrangement is such that when the slide 3| is in its lowermost position the lever 56 may be oscillated slightly but after the slide 3| has moved upwardly a predetermined extent, the cam 38 is operative to hold the lever 36' immovable by reason of the engagement of the projections 36a and 36b therewith. The lever 36 is provided with a shoulder 40 engageable with the limit switch 29 and the arrangement of the shoulder All is such .that when the slide 3| has been lifted to render the lever 36 immovable, the limit switch 29 is in open condition and can be closed only by counterclockwise rotation of the lever 36 with the slide 3| in its lowermost position.

The lever 36 is operated by a treadle ll equipped with a link 42 extending into a hollow member 4 3 pivotally attached to the lever 38 by a upper end of the link 42 and the member 43. Clockwise movement of the treadlell tends to compress the spring 45 to tend to cause counterclockwise rotation of the lever '36. A spring 36 biases the treadle 42 counterclockwise.

Assume that the press is at;rest.,in which con dition the head II is in its uppermost position with the slide 3| in its lowermost position and the piston 22 is at the left end of the cylinder IS. Thetreadle 2| is in its unactuated position and the lever 36 likewise is in its unactuated position as shown in full lines in Fig, 5 with clearance between the surface 39 of the cam 38 Both 45 thereby causing counterclockwise rotation of the lever 36 from its full line position to its dotted line position in which the projection 36a engages the surface 39. Such rotation of the lever 36 closes the limit'switch 29 thereby energizing the solenoid 21 with concomitant setting of the valve '24 to cause fiuidfiow through the pipe 23 into the cylinder |9 to force the piston 22 to the right to expand the toggle joint and force the head downwardly. Such movement of the head H is accompanied by upward movement of the slide 3| which causes clockwise'rotation of the lever I 36 to its original-position (Fig.4) to permit the limit switch 29 to open the energizing circuit of the solenoid 2'! with concomitant return of the treadle x il to its original-position unless it has been heldin its actuated position in which event .the spring 45 yields to permit 0 ockwise rotation of the lever 35. Further upward movement of theslide .3! brings thecam 35 into position to close thelimit switch 35! at the end of the down stroke. of thehead whereupon the solenoid 28 is energized tosetthe valve 24 in condition to cause fluid to flow through the pipe 23a into the cylinder l9 to cause leftward movement of the piston 22 and contraction .of the togglejoint with corresponding lifting of the head N. If the treadle 4| has beenreleased and restored to its original position .by the. spring v46, the press will come to rest after the piston 22 has reached the.

limit of its leftward movement as the switch 29 will remain open. Assuming, however, that the treade 4| has been held in actuated position, the-spring 45 will be under compression by reason of the clockwise movement of the lever 36 and upon suflicient downward movement of the slide 3| will expandto cause counterclockwise movement of the lever 36 to again close the switch 29 and limit the cycle.

A socket member .41 is rigidly attached to one arm I l and is adapted to receive the end of a rod 48. The rod 43 is used by the mechanic to eflect manual operation of the toggle joint in connection with preparing the press for operation so astomakecertain that the upper and.

it pin 44. A spring 45 is interposed between the maybe a suitable liquid such as oil or water or 'by the slide 3!.

pipes23 'and"23a,;the speed of operation of the 'fluid pressuremotor may be regulated as desired.

Any suitablepperating fluid may be used to effect reciprocation of the piston 22 in the cylinder It iscontemplated that the operating fluid may be a suitable gas or vapor such as air or steam. In any event, -flow of the operating fluid to the cylinder i9 is controlled in the manner above described.

Itis of course understood that various modifications may be made intheapparatus above described without'in any way departing'from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

.1. In a press, :a head guided for r-ecti'inear movement, a toggle joint having one end supported for oscillation about. a fixed pivot and the other end pivotallyconnected to saidhead, a double-acting fluid-pressure. motor connected to the knee of the toggle joint, a slidameans'for efieoting reciprocation .of said slide upon.actuationofsaid'toggle joint,'a valve for controlling fluid flow to and from said motor, a pair of solenoids for .actuatingsaid valve, switches for controlling energizationof said solenoids, and means including members on said slide for effecting actuation of said switches.

2. In a press, a toggle joint'having oneend pivotally supported and the other end guided for rectilinear movement, a double-acting fluidpressure motor connected to the knee of the toggle joint, a slide, means for efiecting reciprocation of said slide upon actuation of said toggle joint, a valve for controlling fluid fiow to and from said motor, a pair of solenoids for actuating said valve,.a normally open switch for controlling enby said lever-actuatingmeans including a resilient member.

l. In a press, a togglejoint'having one .end

"pivotally supported and the other end guided for rectilinear movement, a double-acting fluidpressure motor connected to the knee of the toggle joint, a slide, means for effecting reciprocation of said slide ,upon actuation of said toggle joint, a'valve foricontrollingfiuid flow to and from said motor, a pair. of. solenoids for actuating said valve, a normally open switch for controlling energization of each solenoid, a first cam member on said slide effective to close one switch at one end of said slide stroke, a pivoted'levermovable between two positions and having two projections extending toward said second cam member for engagement therewith except with the slide at the remaining end of its stroke to hold said lever immovable, said lever being effective to close the other switch upon movement thereof into its second position, and means for actuating said lever.

5. A press according to claim 4 characterized by said lever-actuating means including a resilient member.

6. In a press, a toggle joint having one end pivotally supported and the other end guided for rectilinear movement, a double-acting fluidpressure motor connected to the knee of the toggle joint, a slide, means for effecting reciprocation of said slide upon actuation of said toggle joint, a valve for controlling fluid flow to and from said motor, a pair of solenoids for actuating said valve, a switch for controlling operation of each solenoid, means including a first cam memher on said slide for actuating one witch to close it at the end of the slide stroke but otherwise to keep it open, a pivoted lever movable between two positions, means including a second cam member on said slide effective to hold said lever immovable in one position except with the slide at the remaining end of its stroke, means including said lever to actuate the other switch to close it upon movement of said lever into its second position but otherwise to keep it open, and means for actuating said lever.

'7. A press according to claim 6 characterized by said lever-actuating means including a resilient member.

8. In a press, a head guided for rectilinear movement, a toggle joint having one end supported for oscillation about a fixed pivot and the other end pivotally connected to said head, a double-acting fluid-pressure motor connected to the knee of the toggle joint, a slide, means for eflecting reciprocation of said slide upon actuation of said toggle joint, a valve for controlling fluid flow to and from said motor, a pair of solenoids for actuating said valve, switches for controlling energization of said solenoids, and means including said slide for efiecting actuation of said switches.

9. In a press, a toggle joint having one end pivotally supported and the other end guided for rectilinear movement, a double-acting fluid-pressure motor connected to the knee of the toggle joint, a slide, means for efiecting reciprocation of said slide upon actuation of said toggle joint, a valve for controlling fluid flow to and from said motor, a pair of solenoids for actuating said valve, switches for controlling energization of said solenoids, automatic means including said slide for actuating one of said switches, and operatorcontrolled means for actuating the remaining switch.

10. In a press, a toggle joint having one end pivotally supported and the other end guided for rectilinear movement, a double-acting fluid-pressure motor connected to the knee of the toggle joint, a slide, means for effecting reciprocation of said slide upon actuation of said toggle joint, a valve for controlling fluid flow to and from said motor, a pair of solenoids for actuating said valve, switches for controlling energization of said solenoids, automatic mean including said slide for actuating one of said switches, operator-controlled means for closing said other switch, and means including said slide for opening said lastnamed switch.

11. A press according to claim 10 characterized by said operator-controlled means including a resilient member.

12. In a press, a head guided for rectilinear movement, a toggle joint having one end supported for oscillation about a fixed pivot and the other end pivotally connected to said head, a double-acting fluid-pressure motor connected to the knee of the toggle joint, a valve for controlling fiuid flow to and from said motor, a slide operated by said toggle joint, and means including said slide for effecting actuation of said valve.

13. In a press, a head guided for rectilinear movement, a toggle joint having one end oscillatable about a fixed pivot and the other end pivotally connected to said head, a double-acting fluid pressure motor connected to the knee of the toggle joint, a valve for controlling fluid flow to and from said motor, a slide, means for effecting reciprocation of said slide upon actuation of said toggle joint, a pair of solenoids for actuating said valve, switches for controlling energization of said solenoids, means including said slide :for effecting actuation of said valve and additional operator-controlled means for efiecting actuation of said valve.

THOMAS LESTLER MAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,113,115 MacMillin et a1 Apr. 5, 1938 1,899,362 Stratton Feb, 28, 1933 1,239,862 Baird Sept. 11, 1917 1,847,889 Osborne Mar. 1, 1932 513,601 Teal Jan. 30, 1894 1,518,894 Bliss Dec. 9, 1924 2,255,496 Wyman Sept. 9, 1941 554,481 Coyne Feb. 11, 1896 

